Saturday, July 23, 2016

Independent Study Week 4: The Wire

Despite the remaining two weeks of independent study, it really feels like things are happening quickly. I started another character this week. It's coming along, but I'm still embarrassed by how it's looking, so you don't see it yet. Here's progress on the demon guy;

Kaitlin tells me his toes look like Cheetos. I feel like compared to the rest of him, his legs are lacking something. I can't decide if I want to do shoes or armor on his thighs. That will probably be decided this week, in addition to building him a war hammer. I also aim to have the other character in a presentable state.

I got together with some art friends yesterday and it was a really good time. We had great discussions about work and drawing and it really got me pumped. I drew some stuff in my sketchbook I didn't hate. Is the slump coming to an end? I certainly hope so.

Here's a thing I'd like to finish. Behold the Psychic King, a giant alien entity from beyond the edge of space hell-bent on enslaving humanity. We find our hero at the apex of his rocket jump, the climax of this duel: When he presses a button, his blade's turbine spools up and the boosterblade carves in twain all matter unfortunate enough to stand in its way. Wind whistling through his ears, he knows there's only chance to strike the vulnerable brain of his foe before losing his mind to the crushing mental influence of the King. He prays his timing is correct and pulls the trigger.

This next one is an edit by me. I drew it with a pen in my sketchbook as seen above, but I moved the jumper for the sake of the design. I'll probably go with this instead.

8 comments:

The big guy is coming along; He even has accessories! I'm not seeing the Cheetos, but as the figure is decidedly not human, it doesn't distract me overly much. However, as you stated, there is something seemingly missing from the legs... Between the total mass and volume of the cloak/scarf/shoulder cowl, the proportions of his antlers/horns, and the armour pieces on the arms, it does feel as if there could be some sort of greave-type armour around the lower legs, in particular, if not boots (which would make the toes thing moot). Not a fully fleshed recommendation, but simple observation.

Ror the record, I like the original protagonist positioning, as he hurtles toward the mind-controlling alien from the side. It simply made a little more sense to me, since striking something/someone from the side would present a much less wary or easily maneuverable target. And who would, in plain sight of a mind-controlling monstrosity, try to fight it head-on? The sideways, sneak attack at least gives him a fighting chance at doing some critical damage BEFORE getting his mind shredded into incoherent bits of his former self.

Love the sketchbook too. It all looks like stuff that kind of belongs in a Lloyd Alexander fantasy novel (like The Black Cauldron - the lowest middle figure could be "Cauldron-born").

I like the idea of greaves. I want to keep them consistent looking with his bracer plates, but want them to be bigger. I need to just give it a shot.

I appreciate the feedback on the psychic guy. I drew it that way after thinking about it, so I'm glad that it feels better to you. AND! The same thought about attacking head on occurred to me as well. I was trying to come up with some petty reason why events were unfolding the way they were. Maybe it takes a moment for the giant to build up enough charge to kill the hero through his Psy-Mail™ (unlikely)? Maybe the hero has leapt up in a blindspot (unlikely)? I haven't come up with a good excuse.

But keeping it the way I drew it originally resolves that, doesn't it?

I'm so conflicted about the tiny hero rocketing up to slay the monster. I mean, I want the good guys to win and I think the little guy is adorable but I also don't like the idea of harming the alien. He looks nice enough! And it reminds me of when Legolas jumps up on that elephant and shoots arrows into his brain. It makes me too sad.

Kaitlin, something to remember is that this isn't a poor, innocent animal that's been trained to kill, like the oliphaunts were. This is a highly intelligent and completely evil alien life form that wants to rule over mankind and take all your presents for itself (He definitely wouldn't share any with you). He's technologically advanced and superior in nearly every way. The rocket guy got the jump on him and he's got to take him out, it's the true spirit of Christmas.